Turned 150,000 miles yesterday

[wincrasher]

My 2009 Hyundai Genesis is the only car I've ever had that I didn't want to get rid of after 3 years.

It's the general condition that makes me want to get rid of them - the rock chips, the door dings, the little pieces falling off.

Just about any car today can last for loads of miles. It's the rest of the car that's usually a problem.

At my last service, the technician recommended I go with the 60,000 mile service - almost $700! Bunch of checks and fluid flushes/changes. Seems like a lot, so I'm mulling. Got 5,000 to go until it's really necessary, so I may shop it around.

My Hyundai is not without issues - sometimes you get the weird noise, or the Nav/electronics pop and then reboot, sometimes it hard shifts. All these seem like electronic "glitches" every once in a while and nothing to really worry about. But the drivetrain is exceptionally smooth and it get's terrific mileage, so I'm going to keep this one.

[disneysteve]

My 2009 Hyundai Genesis is the only car I've ever had that I didn't want to get rid of after 3 years.

It's the general condition that makes me want to get rid of them - the rock chips, the door dings, the little pieces falling off.

Just about any car today can last for loads of miles. It's the rest of the car that's usually a problem.

One look at either of our cars and you'd know that we aren't about the appearance.

Both front door panels on my Camry are stretched so that you can see the inside stuffing along the window button panel. The seat belt lights flash on our van. The sensor went bad but I was assured that it had nothing to do with the safety or effectiveness of the belts. It's just the light, so it keeps flashing because I'm not spending $400 to replace it. With a 12 and 14 year old car, there are loads of scratches and dings that have accumulated over the years. Who cares? As long as the car is mechanically sound and drives well, it's fine with us.

[kork13]

I can't imagine keeping a car that long. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to, and I plan to keep my next car (once I return to the states) for as long as reasonably possible... but a 13 year old car is (relatively) ancient!

My only experience in this respect is my first car, which was an '89 Mitsubishi Galant with 240k miles on it. The thing was a piece, and everybody knew it. But it ran, right up until (and technically after) a truck hit me -- it was 15 years old at that point. Although it worked, it was in terrible shape, and destined for the junk yard.

I can respect the desire and motivation to keep a car for as long as it continues to work, but I think most cars (and/or perhaps their owners) simply aren't built to last more than 8 years or so... just from my limited experience.

[uRabbit]

Get excited when you hit 200k. IMO, cars should last at LEAST 250,000. Mine do/will, because I hypermile.

[bjl584]

Get excited when you hit 200k. IMO, cars should last at LEAST 250,000. Mine do/will, because I hypermile.

hypermile? Is that like hypercommuting, driving a long distance to work?

[kork13]

hypermile? Is that like hypercommuting, driving a long distance to work?

Hypermile... basically, when you go to (at times questionably dangerous) great lengths to maximize fuel economy. Drafting (tailgating), coasting in neutral, precise adherence to particular speeds, overinflation of tires, stripping auto weight, and so on. It depends on how extreme the participant. While the techniques work, the driver (and those around him) need to be cautious and careful. My suggestion, uRabbit: get some hypermiler bumperstickers. At least that way you can warn the people around you.

[GREENBACK]

I can't imagine keeping a car that long. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to, and I plan to keep my next car (once I return to the states) for as long as reasonably possible... but a 13 year old car is (relatively) ancient!

I have a 14 yr old 4wd truck that is used for heavy duty purposes. It hauls a couple of boats and trailers full of everything from firewood to concrete block. It has been driven to multiple remote hunting/fishing spots over the years. It's been stuck in mud and muck and large snowdrifts. I even slid downhill on ice one time and the back end took a love tap from an oak tree. It still looks relatively good and the old engine fires up everytime. Ancient? maybe but it's the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. At eight years it was just getting warmed up.

[disneysteve]

I think most cars (and/or perhaps their owners) simply aren't built to last more than 8 years or so... just from my limited experience.

I'm not sure what led to that estimate but it is quite inaccurate. There was just a report a couple of weeks ago (posted here I believe) that the average age of cars on the road today is a little over 11 years. And if the average is that high, that means there are a lot of cars above that age still going strong.

[bjl584]

I can respect the desire and motivation to keep a car for as long as it continues to work, but I think most cars (and/or perhaps their owners) simply aren't built to last more than 8 years or so... just from my limited experience.

I think that auto makers used to, or so it was rumored by urban legand, make cars that were designed to fail at a certain point. Planned Obsolescence I believe it was called. I'm not sure that was ever true, but I don't hink automakers today build cars with an end date in mind. Quality and competition is forcing them to build better and better cars. They will last virtually as long as they are cared for and maintaned.

[kork13]

I think that auto makers used to, or so it was rumored by urban legand, make cars that were designed to fail at a certain point. Planned Obsolescence I believe it was called. I'm not sure that was ever true, but I don't hink automakers today build cars with an end date in mind. Quality and competition is forcing them to build better and better cars. They will last virtually as long as they are cared for and maintaned.

I didn't mean to imply any designed failure date, simply an observation of when most cars start to definitely show their age, people start replace cars as "old", and auto technology has made significant improvements to merit a replacement. Honestly, DS, I did originally have "8-10 years", but edited it to 8 as a nod to the many who replace their cars every 3-5 years (when the loan gets paid off). The biggest factor is certainly owner maintenance. If a quality car is taken good care of, it can easily last quite a while. I just don't think the population as a whole does it as well as these forums would indicate -- most of us aren't exactly the typical consumers...

[disneysteve]

Honestly, DS, I did originally have "8-10 years", but edited it to 8 as a nod to the many who replace their cars every 3-5 years (when the loan gets paid off). The biggest factor is certainly owner maintenance. If a quality car is taken good care of, it can easily last quite a while. I just don't think the population as a whole does it as well as these forums would indicate -- most of us aren't exactly the typical consumers...

I would still disagree with you. When folks replace their cars after 3-5 years, those cars don't go to the junkyard. They get bought by others who drive them for many more years. As I said, the average age of a car on the road in the US today is 11.1 years (http://moneyland.time.com/2012/01/18...r-been-older/). In order for the average to be 11 years, there have to be a good percentage of cars that are even older.

In 1996, we sold my wife's 1989 Hyundai to her sister who drove it for several more years.
In 1991, I sold my cousin my 1982 Datsun and he drove it for several more years.
I've had several offers to buy my current 1998 Toyota including one or two on this forum.

[kork13]

I would still disagree with you. When folks replace their cars after 3-5 years, those cars don't go to the junkyard. They get bought by others who drive them for many more years. As I said, the average age of a car on the road in the US today is 11.1 years (http://moneyland.time.com/2012/01/18...r-been-older/). In order for the average to be 11 years, there have to be a good percentage of cars that are even older.

In 1996, we sold my wife's 1989 Hyundai to her sister who drove it for several more years.
In 1991, I sold my cousin my 1982 Datsun and he drove it for several more years.
I've had several offers to buy my current 1998 Toyota including one or two on this forum.

DS, please understand it's only banter... But the same article also said that the average age has risen sharply in recent years, quite easily tied to the recent (and arguably temporary) slump in family finances. in '02, it was 9.0 years, right in my window. And your anecdotes, while valid, are not necessarily indicative. Just like some cars may be older, some will be newer. Add in the fact that classic cars (20+ years old, which are often significantly refurbished with new engines, transmissions, and other vital parts) would skew the average toward being older..... I would still submit that my preface is valid.

[disneysteve]

DS, please understand it's only banter... But the same article also said that the average age has risen sharply in recent years, quite easily tied to the recent (and arguably temporary) slump in family finances. in '02, it was 9.0 years, right in my window. And your anecdotes, while valid, are not necessarily indicative. Just like some cars may be older, some will be newer. Add in the fact that classic cars (20+ years old, which are often significantly refurbished with new engines, transmissions, and other vital parts) would skew the average toward being older..... I would still submit that my preface is valid.

I thought about the antique cars skewing the numbers. My cousin has a 1955 Pontiac and a 1960 Corvette so I'm well acquainted with that segment of the market. I wonder if the stats include those or just standard registration vehicles (antiques typically have special registration status).

[MonkeyMama]

My experience is that just about any car will last 15-20 years, pretty easily. Well, driven 10k miles per year (our average). My husband's car is a 2001 Ford and looks the same as the day we bought it, on the outside. Doesn't look tired at all. (He's not so clean on the inside. ). Of course, I've owned some pretty old cars. Some just look more modern. I mentioned recently my mom has a 15-year-old Mark VIII that is sometimes mistaken as pretty new. IT looks very modern. Anything built in the 80s is going to look pretty boxy, in comparison.

Our first cars were both early-80s models and the paint was in a sad state by the time we bought those cars (1992?). But the paint job on the same aged car (10 years?) looks great, today.

Since we bought our first cars at 150k+ miles, my experience was though the cars were very reliable, they would eat through certain parts very quickly. My first car ate water pumps and brakes (both a PAIN). My second car ate belts and oil (not quite such a pain nor as expensive). Now that our 2001 is nearing 150k miles, I am wondering what it is going to start chewing up and spitting out. But, overall, the model's track record is that it shouldn't give us any big problems before 200k miles. If it starts acting like my older cars, I'll probably replace it. I am no longer a broke college student, but am sure one would love to buy this car when we are done with it.

Yes, I am sure we take care of our things more than average. I have had several conversations with people who can't believe how old our cars are and can't imagine how we save any money with *all those repairs.* But then I constantly hear how broke their brand new cars are, know what I mean? Because they don't take care of them. I am sure they are imagining we have more repairs when the truth is we have less repairs than average, and no car payments either. win-win. I remember one year in particular when practically everyone we knew was having A/C problems in their newer cars, and they had small babies. IT easily is 100F-110F degrees here in the summers. I honestly thought they were insane? My *old* car is insane? 13 years old? At least the A/C works and never gave me any problems. As is everything important about the car (I had the belt/oil eater at the time - as long as I regularly replaced the oil and belts, was no biggie).

[Like2Plan]

My experience is that just about any car will last 15-20 years, pretty easily.

I think cars have gotten a lot more reliable. I couldn't believe the maint schedule for my 2005 Vibe. It's mainly change the oil and rotate the tires and change the air filters every 5,000miles. We take the car over to the J-team to change the oil/filters and the tires are rotated for free at Costco. ( Even though we use Mobile One, we still change every 3,000 miles. It was what my Dad taught me and I have a hard time going 5,000 miles )

When I was growing up, my Dad was always working on our cars. Dad worked as a mechanic in a garage in his younger days and he also held an A+P license (for working on airplanes). He was totally against buying a used car. He said you usually end up buying someone else's troubles. But, I remember having to tune cars up quite often back then. Gapping the spark plugs and adjusting the timing belt and so on. Believe me, you needed to check the oil at each fill-up, but they used to do that as part of the service.